ABSTRACT
The
study examines the Impact of Ikeja Local Government Administration on Poverty
Alleviation in the sub-urban area
called Ikeja in Lagos State of Nigeria.
Poverty
is a state where an individual is not able to cater adequate for his/her basic
necessities such as food, clothing and shelter, is unable to meet social and
economic objections, lack gainful employment, lack skill, lack assets and self
–esteem and has limited access to social and economic infrastructures such as
education, health, potable water, sanitation and consequently has limited
chance of advancing his/her welfare to the limits of his/her capabilities.
High
majority of the population in Nigeria is living below the poverty line. The depth and severity of poverty is worse in
the rural area than in urban area. The
illiterates and those engaged in the agricultural sector recorded over 85
percent rate of poverty. The state of
development, according to the United Nations Human Development Index indicates
that Nigeria is scored low. Hug e
efforts therefore are anticipated so as
to eradicate poverty level in Nigeria.
Provision for strategic development needs to be pursued with
determination to succeed.
Therefore
the desire to examine and assess the impact of local government administration
on poverty Alleviation, using Ikeja Local Government Area arises.
For
deep study, a perfect research method, known as survey design was
implemented. Therefore, a sample of 75
employees of the Local Government out of population of 260 employees was taken
and from them vital data about the local government and its impact on poverty
Alleviation was collected.
The
analysis of the collected data was done
inferentially and descriptively. Frequency tables were used to explain
the data initially, which chi-square test of significance was used to test
hypothesis at the study afterwards.
The
research work discovered that impact of Ikeja Local Government Administration on poverty Alleviation was
pretty low and as such much needs to be done.
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Pages
Title
page i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract
v
Table
of content vii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.0 Background
Of Study 1
1.1 Statement Of Problems 4
1.2 Significance of study 5
1.3 Objectives
Of Study 6
1.4 Research
Questions 7
1.5 Research
Hypothesis 8
1.6 Limitation
Of Study 10
1.7 Scope
Of Study 10
1.8 Definition
Of Terms 10
CHAPTER
TWO:
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction 12
2.2 Poverty 12
2.3 Features Of Poverty 17
2.4 The Causative Factors Of Poverty 19
2.5 Incidence
Of Poverty In Nigeria 23
2.6
Approaches to
poverty alleviation 24
2.7
Local Government 26
2.8 Brief Historical Background Of Local Government
Administration In Nigeria 28
2.9
Justification For
Local Government 32
2.10
Distinguishing
Feature Of Local Government 35
2.11
The role of local government in nation building 36
2.12
Functions Of Local
Government 39
2.13
Problems facing
Nigerian local government 42
2.14
The Role Of Local Government In Socio-Economic Development
(Poverty
Alleviation) 45
2.15
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH
METHODOLOGY
3.0 Introduction 53
3.1 Sources Of Data 53
3.2
Sample Technique 54
3.3
Method Of Data Collection 54
3.4
Description Of Research Instrument 55
3.5 Validation Of Research Instrument 56
3.6 Methods
Of Data Presentation And Analysis 57
CHAPTER
FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
4.0 Introduction 58
4.1
Presentation Of Data 58
CHAPTER
FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.0 Introduction
70
5.1 Summary Of Findings 70
5.2 Conclusion
71
5.4 Recommendations 73
Bibliography 75
Questionnaire/Appendix
77
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Poverty means the absence of basic
necessities of life. Poverty is a situation where an individual is unable to
take adequate care of his /her basic needs such as shelter, food and clothing.
It also mean inability to meet social and economic obligation , lack of sound
education, lack of self concept, lack of gainful employment and exposure to
poor social and economic infrastructures such as, good health care centre,
clear water supply, electricity , sanitation and ultimately lack chance of
advancing his/her welfare to the limits of his/her capacities.
Poverty connotes deplorable living
standard of people and communities in a state. In our contemporary world, it
simply mean people who are below a certain minimum income level and have no
access to basic necessities of life needed for the acceptable living condition.
Poverty is the worst disease that
afflicts people all over the world. It is undeniable mark of
underdevelopment. Poverty is a terrible
and undesirable chain which keeps the poor in a pitiable state of destitution.
As a matter of fact, poverty is a plague
that demands urgent attention in order for the people to live a fulfilled and
enviable life. Therefore, is not a thing of surprise that every government both
past and present made poverty alleviation one of their cardinal focuses? In
view of this concept, this research work tries to identify and determine the
various impact of local government administration on poverty alleviation in
Nigeria, using Ikeja local government Area of Lagos state of Nigeria as a case study.
The reason to employ local government
administration in this research work emanate from the fact that local
government are closer to the people at the grass-roots’ and ordinarily
grass-roots are meant to offer development such as, health care centre,
education, water supply, roads. Neglect of any of these in a part of the
country will be reflected nationally in disease, ignorance and poor
communication nature.
Thus, the significance of local
government “has to rest on something more substantial than its efficacy for the
disposal of sewage or refuse”. The functional terms, local government provides
organizational unity for the performance of various services to match the
socio-economic entities which local government communities are.
Furthermore; the constitutional duties of
local governments are among other things to enhance the well-being of the
people, thereby having alleviation of poverty in the lives of the people as one
of its constitutional duties. However, various research works neglected this
essential aspect of local government administration but focused on the
evolution, development, finances etcetera, of local government.
Ikeja local government of Lagos state,
which is being used as a case study in this research work, has its headquarters
at its present location along new garage ikeja.
Like any other local government within the federation, courtesy to 1976 local
government reforms, it started functioning with a chairman at the helms of
affairs, deputy chairman, a secretary and other officials to see to the
administration of local government which was at that time under a
non-representative administration. However, ikeja
local government is today routed in the laws that empowers it to function as a
legitimate and democratic local government with all obligations and
responsibilities as bequeathed to it through the 1976 local government reforms,
which makes it worthwhile as a case study in this sensitive research work.
Proof of poverty facilities in Nigeria, inadequate water supply, lack of roads,
lack of health care, lack of educational system, lack of gainful employment,
lack of financial resources, lack of skill, lack of social amenities such as
electricity, limited access to socio- economic infrastructures.
The aforementioned historical background
of poverty and of the local government being used as a case study places us on
a better setting as we progress on the study.
In the case of the local government, it
provides us the chance of determining the basis for evaluating how its constitutional
duties impacted positively on the lives of the people to alleviate poverty. On
the other hand, poverty itself, create opportunity to examine how afflictions
and endemic it is to the lives of the community and while it should be urgently
addressed and ultimately reduced to the barest minimum if not completely wipe
out.
1.1 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
This refers to any situation which
creates difficulty in understanding. This is what the researcher intend to find
solutions to by carefully looking into the following statement:
a.
Political considerations have overshadowed the
premium hitherto placed on economic viability in the creation of local
government.
b.
Most local government has come to rely heavily
on subvention from the federal government thereby viable economic resources
base are left untapped.
c.
Legal-rational authority is not
institutionalized. Since those in authority lack legitimacy, illegality quickly
assumes acceptance from the people.
d.
The encroachment of higher levels of
government on local governments power is a negation of its declared objective.
e.
The constitutional duties of local government
include inter-alia the alleviation of poverty in the lives of the local
citizens.
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE
OF STUDY
This research work is expected to assist
and expose individuals who may in the future find us in an elected or appointed
position in government.
This study will not only be helpful to
the staff of local government but also be of great importance to others
researchers who might want to explore the same area of study.
This study is not an exhaustive discourse
on the topic but a quick overview to sensitize us to those aspects of the local
governments that has proven crucial to local government poverty alleviation.
The research will help us to understand
the problem realistically and identify concrete initiatives that are likely to
have impact.
The study will show practical and policy-
oriented suggestions for poverty eradication.
The research provides useful overview of
different modalities used in different countries, and thus offers a menu of
options and solutions for other countries in the region and beyond, based on a
thorough understanding of the local government situation.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
The cardinal objective of this study is
to strictly examine the impact of local government administration on poverty
alleviation, using ikeja local government in Lagos state as a case study.
To know and evaluate the various
constitutional duties of local governments in Nigeria as it relates to poverty
alleviation in the live of the people.
The study will further identify and
discuss factors contributing to poverty or inimical poverty alleviation
programmes in local government administration in Nigeria
The study will look critically into the
contributions of local governments in poverty alleviation or eradication
Identify those things that can be
indicated as improvement in the live of the people of ikeja local government
area as a result of effective administration of the local government
The study addresses particular weakness of
local government in poverty alleviation programmes: the appropriation of fund
in the political system by political officials, lack of transparency about
money flows in politics, interference from higher power, poor personnel, and
how high level of corruption limit poverty alleviation in local government area of Lagos state.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
This study will provide answers to the
following research question:
1. What
are the visible elements impending poverty alleviation policies in local
government administration in Nigeria?
2. What can one conveniently link as improvement
in the lives of the people under
local government in Nigeria?
3. What
are the statutory functions of local government on poverty alleviation?
4. What
will be the accumulative effect if local governments refuse to put in place program/policies on poverty alleviation?
5. What
are the areas local governments can contribute towards
poverty alleviation in the lives of the
local people?
1.5 RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS
We have null hypotheses (H0) that is the
hypotheses of interest; the one of the researcher is interested in testing. We
also have alternative hypotheses (H1) which is usually accepted whenever the
null hypotheses is rejected.
Similarly, a hypothesis is either true or
false. Thus there are two errors which are likely to be committed.
Type
I error: Is rejecting a true hypotheses
Type
II error: Is accepting false hypotheses
This study will be guided by the following
research hypotheses:
H0 (Null hypothesis): Poverty alleviation
polices of local government in Nigeria has no significant influence on poverty
alleviation.
H1 (Alternative hypothesis): Poverty alleviation
polices of local government in
Nigeria has significant influence on poverty
alleviation.
H0 (Null
hypothesis): There is no relationship between the impacts of local government
administration and the level of poverty in its local citizens.
H1 (Alternative hypothesis):
There is relationship between the impacts of local government administration
and the level of poverty in its local citizens.
Ho (Null
hypothesis): There is not going to be a relationship between statutory
functions of local government and poverty alleviation.
r
H1 (Alternative
hypothesis): There is going to be a relationship between statutory functions of
local government and poverty alleviation.
H0 (Null hypothesis): The implementation of
poverty alleviation policies has significant influence on the live of its
citizens.
H1 (Alternative
hypothesis): The implementation of poverty alleviation policies has no
significant influence on the live of its citizens.
H0 (Null hypothesis):
The contribution of local government on poverty alleviation policies has
significant influence on poverty alleviation.
H1 (Alternative
hypothesis): The contribution of local government on poverty alleviation
policies has no significant influence on poverty alleviation.
1.6 LIMITATION
OF STUDY
The financial refinement of the research
work couple with the limited time will serve as a limiting factor, also the
assumption that personnel to be interviewed may not be easily accessible to
give sensitive information regarding the local government. In addition, the
research will be limited by inadequate study material such as journals, text
and classified government reports.
1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY
This research work is intended to look
into the various impact of local government administration on poverty
alleviation in ikeja local
government area. The research work is on the ikeja
local government out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria and will not
extend beyond it.
1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Government: The system by which a state or community is
governed. Government is the machinery by which the will of the state is
articulated, implemented and achieved.
Administration: Administration is the organization and
running of a system. Government in power. Administration is the use of both
human and material resources to achieve declared goals.
Local
government: Government at the grassroots. Constitutionally, local
government is third tier of government after the federal and the state
government.
Poverty: The
state of being very poor. Poverty connotes lack of basic necessities of life
such as shelter, clothing and food.
Alleviation: To
make problem less severe. To reduce or lessening negative effect to a bearable
minimum.
Constitutional
role:
notable roles as entrench in the constitution of a given political community.
Policy: Policy is a set of decision made and actions
taken from various options by the actors in response to certain problem.
Grass-root: The most basic level of an organization,
community or country.
Reforms: To makes changes in something so as to
improve it. Make someone, organization
or institution improves their behavior.
Obligation: A
responsibility which one must carry out.
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